TP-Link TL-WR842ND router review
TP-Link introduced the TL-WR842ND router in 2011. It is powered by Atheros AR7241 chipset, 32 MB of RAM, and 8 MB of flash memory.
Excited to learn if the TL-WR842ND lives up to expectations? Read on!
Table of Contents
- TP-Link TL-WR842ND specifications
- Body, dimensions, weight
- System, chipset, RAM, flash, power supply
- Network, protocols, WAN and LAN ports
- Wireless, antennas, speed, security
- Connectivity
- Administration, user interface, login information
- Links
- Verdict, Pros and Cons
- Photos
- Comparisons
Our personal experiences and opinions form the basis of this article. We aimed to share insights on a topic, and we hoped others would find it useful and inspirational. If you noticed any mistakes or missing details about the TP-Link TL-WR842ND, please let us know.
This router is a basic 2.4 GHz router, it provides reliability for small networks. TP-Link has established a solid reputation as a reliable and reputable networking brand.
TP-Link TL-WR842ND specifications
| Brand | TP-Link |
|---|---|
| Name | TL-WR842ND |
| Type | TL-WR842ND |
| Rating | |
| Launch | 2011 |
Body
| Dimensions | 192 x 130 x 33 mm |
|---|
If you live in a small apartment, the size of the router is crucial to deciding whether it will fit.
System
| Chipset | Atheros AR7241 |
|---|---|
| RAM | 32 MB |
| Flash | 8 MB |
| OS | TP-Link |
| Alternative OS | OpenWRT DD-WRT |
| Power supply | 12 V / 1 A |
The Atheros AR7241 CPU affects the router's performance, working with RAM and firmware. Some router features and software work best when they have enough RAM to help them. OpenWrt has a community that actively develops it. They continuously work on improving its security.
Network
| Protocols | IPv4 |
|---|---|
| LAN ports | 4 x 10/100 Mbps |
| WAN ports | 1 x 10/100 Mbps |
| Mobile network | no |
| VPN support | no |
Wired connections may bottleneck due to the limits of Fast Ethernet ports.
Wireless
| Antennas | 2 x 5 dBi RP-SMA |
|---|---|
| 2.4 GHz | yes |
| 5 GHz | no |
| 60 GHz | no |
| Standards | IEEE 802.11b/g/n |
| Class | N300 |
| Speed | 300 Mbps |
| Transmit power | 20 dBm |
| Security | WEP WPA WPA2 WPS |
| Guest network | yes |
The TL-WR842ND is compatible with 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi networks. This is a Wi-Fi 4 router, with slower data transfer speeds. This can result in slower downloads, buffering, and reduced performance. The introduction of WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 2) improved upon WEP. It provides stronger security. The Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) lets you join a safe wireless network with the push of a button or a simple PIN entry.
Connectivity
| USB ports | 1 x USB 2.0 |
|---|---|
| Print server | yes |
| File server | yes |
The USB 2 port has a maximum theoretical data transfer rate of 480 megabits per second (Mbps). A USB print server lets you connect a printer to your network. Then, computers can print to it without a direct connection. The TL-WR842ND router lets you schedule backups. You can back up to the connected USB storage device.
Administration
| Default IP | 192.168.1.1 |
|---|---|
| Default username | admin |
| Default password | admin |
If you can't log in to your TP-Link router's setup panel, try resetting it. A reset can help you troubleshoot. It is highly recommended to change the default password of your TL-WR842ND router. Do this after the initial setup.
Links
| Official site | https://www.tp-link.com/ |
|---|
Pros and Cons
Every router, including this TP-Link one, has its good sides and not-so-good sides. Let's take a closer look at both to get a full understanding of what this router can do. Just remember, this is just what I think, and you might see things differently.
Pros
- OpenWrt compatible
- WPS friendly
- USB 2 compatible
- printserver functionality
- fileserver operation
Cons
- insufficient flash
- lack of Gigabit LAN
- Non-gigabit WAN port
- missing Wi-Fi 6 support
- lacks Wi-Fi 5 compatibility
- reduced Wi-Fi bandwidth
- incompatible with WPA3
TP-Link TL-WR842ND photos
TP-Link TL-WR842ND comparisons
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Updated: June 6, 2024
